Chapter 20 - Desolate Ruins (1)
Desolate Ruins (1)
20.Desolate Ruins (1)
-We will arrange for you to move into the finest residence near the Association. We happen to have one available.
I received a call from Park Seo-woong shortly after applying for a change of residence.
Not only was the change of residence approved, but the Association offered to connect me with a high-end new building near the Association.
"Really? They're offering that place?"
Uncle Cheolgi, who was listening, was surprised enough to say that. Soon, his face was filled with a smile.
That apartment was the most desirable place for Koreans at the moment.
-The Association also offers exclusive loans for Hunters, so you don't have to worry too much.
I had nearly 10 billion won, but the house price there was even higher. However, Park Seo-woong said they would support that as well.
I couldn't spend all the money I had.
-Separately from that, I have a request. We would like to ask you to participate in the subjugation of a level-restricted survival gate for levels 16-20 in the future. Would that be acceptable?
However, it seemed that the reason for the call wasn't just that.
-This request is separate from the application for a change of residence. Of course, we will provide compensation appropriate for the Association's request for cooperation.
It was said to be separate, but it wasn't really. It would be awkward to refuse after receiving such benefits.
But it was what I wanted anyway.
I was already planning to go and was waiting for a request for cooperation for the level-restricted survival gate.
In other words, it was a perfect situation. The change of residence was resolved beyond what I had hoped for.
"Of course."
-Thank you sincerely for your cooperation.
"I can just go in alone, right?"
-Ah, there's something additional I need to tell you about that part.
Were they going to tell Uncle to go in with me? Give me another Escape Secretary? I thought that might be the case.
Currently, Uncle and I were the most watched promising talents. Giving us experience would be a good idea.
-We are thinking of forming a team of four, including Han Hye, Choi Cheol-gi, and two others requested by the Association. Would that be acceptable?
Not just the two of us, but four?
It wasn't uncommon. It was common for the Association to connect promising talents of appropriate levels into teams.
"Um, but wouldn't that be dangerous? The safest thing would be for me to go in alone."
-We plan to provide Escape Secretaries. They are usually used exclusively by the advance teams... but we consider you all potential advance team Hunters.
In other words, they were willing to invest boldly to increase our experience.
-Both of the people we are introducing are support types, so their jobs will balance well with Han Hye and Choi Cheol-gi. They were originally on standby.
Listening to the story, it seemed they had requested them in advance to attack this Gate, which was about to undergo a Gate Break.
So, the negotiations had been completed before I Awakened, and they hadn't raised the level beyond 20.
The situation was that there was a shortage of talent to take the front lines, and then Uncle Cheolgi and I appeared at just the right time.
If that hadn't happened, they would have requested Hunters from foreign countries.
'Cooperation with other countries happens occasionally, but the losses are significant.'
When requesting cooperation from Hunters, they give rewards, but in the case of foreign countries, they have to give even bigger rewards.
If a problem arises, the foreign country also loses talent.
-We have an A-class healer and a B-class Elementalist with buff skills on standby.
Oh, that's genuinely not bad. An A-class healer was the nobility among nobles, practically royalty.
A B-class Elementalist was also in a position equivalent to a count.
-If you get along, you might want to work together as a team. They haven't been able to find suitable front-liners either.
Right. The fact that we are promising talents who are showing potential these days isn't always a good thing.
It meant that it was difficult to find good party members at our level.
Honestly, I was abnormal.
Level 6 and Level 20. It would be difficult for a normal Hunter to catch up to that gap in a short period.
'Even if we form a team and apply for a Gate, choosing one with safety in mind, there's no guarantee it will be approved.'
Normally, it would have been difficult to meet these talents.
Of course, there was no guarantee that we would get along even if we met, but wasn't it an opportunity?
-They are members of a Guild, but they haven't received anything, so they can leave at any time. Feel free to meet them.
Oh, that was unexpected.
Just because you're a member of a Guild doesn't necessarily mean you'll find a team within the Guild. However, it's awkward to refuse a request.
This becomes more pronounced the more you receive from the Guild.
The Ironclad Guild had offered Uncle and me tremendous benefits, but if we had received them, we would have been tied to them.
It meant that we had to do work commensurate with the investment we received.
"We're happy to. Thank you for the introduction. We'll contact you again when we reach the right level. It'll probably be soon."
After a brief discussion with Uncle, I nodded.
It was good that I had Awakened good abilities and that Yong-yong's egg had hatched, but it was also good that the Association was paying attention to us.
If someone like the Great Achievement Guild Leader had been on that side, it would have been an order, not a suggestion, and I would have been displeased.
It was like things that were going well were going even better?
"The next Gate plan is already set."
After subjugating the Desolate Ruins Gate, a level-restricted survival gate. Gates with good rewards in a row.
Uncle and I smiled.
* * *
In the meantime, I also studied the new things that came out when Subspace reached level 2.
The first thing I checked was the food.
Since the weapons and Secret Arts were so amazing, I wondered if the food might also have some amazing effect.
Unfortunately, however, I haven't found any great use for it yet.
'It's a relief that it's edible, though.'
After checking with all sorts of testing equipment, I found that there was no poison in the food. However, there was no special effect such as raising Stats when eaten.
It had an exotic taste, and I felt a little more full?
Maybe it was because I ate a small amount, just in case.
I hadn't yet accurately grasped what the effect was.
'What I'm more curious about is this seed.'
Leaving the food aside, the part I was focusing on was the seed.
My gaze naturally turned to the seeds, which were divided into small bags.
[Unidentified Seed]
-An unidentified seed that has not yet germinated.
No matter how much I looked at these seeds, this was all the explanation that came up.
Was it because they hadn't germinated yet?
It was strangely infuriating that it only said things I already knew without being told.
-Currently, it is an unanalyzable plant...
I searched the internet and investigated, and I even commissioned a private institution to analyze it, but there were no answers.
Well, considering the items that had come out so far, these seeds were definitely from another world.
Furthermore, judging from the fact that the item description appeared, it was certain that they were not ordinary crop seeds.
The problem was, if so, was it okay to grow them as they were?
'I shouldn't grow them in ordinary soil.'
Since they were seeds from another world, I couldn't be sure if they would be compatible with this soil.
I didn't know what would grow either.
Above all, the items in the Subspace were items left to me by the previous Void Lord.
Considering the items he had left behind, I couldn't take these seeds lightly either.
'Maybe the next time Subspace levels up, farmland where I can grow them will appear.'
It seemed like it was giving me items indiscriminately, but Subspace had always given me items that were perfect for my growth.
If I thought that way, I could expect something from these seeds as well.
I gently returned the seeds to their place so that they wouldn't be damaged. Fortunately, perhaps because they were enchanted with preservation Magic, the seeds remained in their original state even when left like this.
Just in case, I had also prepared plant lights and a few flowerpots, so if necessary, I could try growing one or two.
'Well, let's wait and see until the next Subspace level up.'
Now it was time to enjoy something certain.
'Elixir time!'
I had invested all three of the Elixirs I received because of Yong-yong, but Uncle had returned one B-class Elixir.
Now I was going to enter the Desolate Ruins and the level-restricted survival gate.
Leaving aside the Ruins, I couldn't save my strength in the latter.
It meant that it was time to invest the Elixirs and Stat points I had been saving.
[Moonlight herb (B-class)]
-A flower that contains the power of deep moonlight in an area rich in Mana.
-Consuming it seems to bring good energy to the body.
It was a slightly chilly Elixir. It would be nice if this also gave me Cold Resistance.
I ate the Elixir with a little expectation. A chill entered my throat, and Mana spread throughout my body.
[Lv16 Void Lord, Han Hye]
Strength: 18
Agility: 20
Stamina: 23(+2)
Spirit: 11(+2)
Mana: 23(+2)
Remaining Points: 29
Skills: Subspace (S-class) lv2, Fire Resistance (A-class) lv2, Fighting Cock (C-class) lv2, Imperial Basic Swordsmanship (E-class) lv4, Cold Resistance (E-class) lv1, *Wind Split (lv1)
"Oh."
Even though it was E-class, I gained Cold Resistance. Skills weren't there for nothing. Even a low grade was better than nothing.
An A-class Elixir was better than I imagined, so it was a pretty good situation.
'Stamina, Spirit, and Mana Stats also increased.'
Anyway, my Status Window was like this after breaking through Flame Valley. I also had quite a few remaining points.
If possible, I wanted to make it pretty.
I liked the numbers to be neat and tidy rather than having Stats that were a bit all over the place.
[Lv16 Void Lord, Han Hye]
Strength: 25(+7)
Agility: 25(+5)
Stamina: 25(+2)
Spirit: 20(+9)
Mana: 25(+2)
Remaining Points: 4
I distributed the points to look good, leaving 4 remaining points. It would be nice if Spirit was also 25, but it was a pretty good Stat.
I had to put points into Spirit little by little. There were many stories that it was a Stat that you bitterly felt the need for as you leveled up.
It was a Stat that was initially despised but became precious after experiencing your body freezing at the roar of a Monster.
The fact that my body froze when I met the Red Dragon was also due to that influence.
Well, unlike me, most Awakened people tended to focus their Stats according to their jobs.
But balancing them was the best way to see the high points.
Front-liners needed Mana, and rear-liners needed physical abilities to deal with emergencies.
I didn't have to focus on one thing. There were so many abilities that had been enhanced by various factors.
'I have to go for all-rounder.'
.
.
.
I spent the next few days busy. I looked at the apartment introduced by the Association and set a moving date.
It was a 50-pyeong house, and I was so amazed by the luxury that I had never seen before that my mouth dropped open.
'The city is all visible through the glass...'
It felt like I had entered a place I had only seen in dramas and movies in Subspace. Uncle was surprised, but I was even more surprised.
I was going from a studio apartment to such a luxury apartment.
I also had to buy appliances and furniture, but I didn't know much, so my sister-in-law helped me. Of course, I had a lot of money, so I bought everything brand new.
In the process, I gave the Fire Jade I got from Flame Valley to Minseok, and he liked it more than I imagined.
-Wow, hyung! I love you!
He was grateful and happy when I gave him Magic stones, but he was ten times happier. His attitude towards me also became somewhat polite.
There was also a point that I found strange.
-But I feel something strange.
-It must be because of the Mana.
-It's a little different! Magic stones also contain Mana!
-Isn't it because of the heat? It's a jewel that was in lava.
-It's different from that! There's something inside!
I honestly didn't know what Minseok was talking about. Well, children could be amazed by anything.
I was satisfied with seeing him happy.
I wanted to give him all the things I found like this as gifts in the future.
"How's the car?"
"It's good, but it's an SUV..."
Of course, I also bought a car. One that I didn't have to wait for. Uncle bought a luxury sedan from a foreign country, and I bought a luxury SUV.
I had been driving an old SUV from the beginning when I was an Unawakened Hunter because I had to carry luggage...
Perhaps because of that, I felt more comfortable with an SUV even now that I didn't really need space to put luggage.
Even when I test drove it, I was more drawn to the SUV.
"What's wrong with an SUV?"
"The comfort of a sedan, man..."
"It's nice to look down from above."
Anyway, Uncle and I, who had finished all those miscellaneous tasks, arrived in front of the Desolate Ruins Gate.
"You didn't forget anything, did you?"
"We checked together."
I had already put everything I needed in Subspace.
"Let's go in right away."
"Okay. Hehe."
Uncle grinned.
A Ruins Gate. Wasn't it a place that all Hunters wanted? I was looking forward to it as well.
'There are Hunters who can't find anything and come out...'
We weren't.
My spatial sense, which could feel the surrounding 20M. If something was hidden, I couldn't miss it.
"We have to find something."
I was going to search this Ruins Gate literally inside and out.